The Washington Wizards will have the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, which is just about the worst-case scenario for their franchise.

For whatever reason, the NBA has decided to use an oddly archaic system of weighted ping-pong balls to decide where each teams will select between the No. 1 and No. 14 pick in its draft. The winner of this lottery would have an opportunity to draft Cooper Flagg, who is one of the most coveted prospects in recent memory.

The Mavericks had a combination of 10-14-11-7 which was the exact combination that corresponded with the No. 1 overall pick. The Wizards had a combination of 10-14-11-1.

The Mavericks won the 2025 NBA Draft lottery with the ping pong ball combination of 10-14-11-7.
– The Blazers would have won if the last ball had been 6.
– The Wizards would have won if the last ball had been 1.

— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) May 12, 2025

More: The Wizards being just one ping-pong ball away from drafting Victor Wembanyama is just…so Wizards

Perhaps that sounds familiar, and if it does, you are absolutely right. That is because a couple of years ago, the Wizards were also one ping-pong ball away from landing Victor Wembanyama.

If I had a nickel for every time the Wizards lost out on a recent generational prospect in the NBA draft lottery, I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice.

Here is more from David Aldridge (via The Athletic):

“This felt cruel, if you’ve followed the Washington Wizards for any length of time, or know the angst and belief by much of their fan base that the franchise, for some reason, has been cursed. That their team is viewed as unimportant by a league that dotes on its glamour teams, and which never bestows upon Washington through its NBA Lottery the kind of difference-making player who can change the long-term fortunes of the franchise.”

I don’t know why this sort of bad fortune is following Washington. These sorts of things are unknowable.

It is painful for folks who root for the Wizards right now, but on the end of this road, hopefully there is better fortune in the future.

Meanwhile, for more prospect coverage, here is our latest NBA mock draft at For The Win.

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This article originally appeared on For The Win: The Wizards were just 1 ping-pong ball away from both Cooper Flagg and Victor Wemanyama